hoopsandharmonies

Not a lot would change. He'd tell me how someone was messing with the game no matter who they were and how I had to focus and how I was messing things up for me and for my team. It'd be exactly what he said when he first met Gabriella, and it'll probably be something he says if I marry her.

It's fine. You learn to just...whatever. That's not unusual but it's okay. What isn't okay is the sudden problem he's got just because you're dating Ryan. You're still my best friend, you're still the same kid he's coached for years, literally nothing changed.

Yeah, I'm the kid he's coached for years and I might have gone pro and I kinda ended all of that due to gayness. So there's that. He's worked for it, y'know. Our dream.

But also, some people are gonna hate me, just because of that. Just like some people have always hated me because I'm black and just like plenty of people also judge you for being white. That's how the world is. Adding 'gay' to the list of what I am was bound to make some people hate me and not everyone's gonna be able to get over themselves. I can't let that get me down. I can't let that stop me. You can't let it stop you, either.

Even if it's your father.

Ever since we first saw the light,
A man and woman like to shake it on a Saturday night
So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with all of my might today!
Cause you cant stop the motion of the ocean, or the rain from above
They can try to stop the paradise we're dreamin of
But you cannot stop the rhythm of two hearts in love to stay
You can't stop the beat!

No way, you would never have gone pro. You're too short. …anyway I know. We've worked on the dream since we were kids but what happens when the dream changes? Did you ever think we'd change our minds? Because I didn't.

I know, and I'm glad you're going through life with that attitude now and that Ryan's by your side and whatever, but that's still not okay with me. None of that is okay with me, I don't care how the world is. Why can't we change the world a little? We changed East. That was a good start. I'm not letting anything stop me, what the hell?

…oh my god what has Ryan done to you?

Hey, I'm 5'10, there are totally shorter pros than me. Not a lot, but some. Anyway, it doesn't even matter, you know what I mean. And you were the one that opened my eyes to the possibility of changing my mind.

We are gonna change the world a little. That's what we're doing right now, y'know, bit by bit. But it won't be overnight and you can't just fight and scream all the time. Sometimes you just gotta celebrate the good stuff.

...well, he's starring in the damn musical, it's kinda been on my mind a lot. Don't judge me, you still have to love me.

I know what you mean, yeah. And it wasn't just me, I wish everybody would stop saying that. Gabriella started everything. She changed me for better and for worse and I love her for it even though this whole thing is still bigger than I thought. All I care about is if you're happy though. You're happy with the change?

I celebrate the good stuff! I celebrate plenty of good stuff.

…look, I'm sorry I wasn't honest with you before, okay? But Coach and I have been fighting a lot since the semester started and I'm just sort of figuring out what I can do until I graduate. I've got it covered.

I love you and I tolerate him. Kidding, you know I like Ryan a lot. And I know you're going to be Hairspray'd for a few months even after he's home.

I know that it wouldn't have happened without Gabriella, but I'd not have seen any connection to myself if it hadn't been you. You're my brother. Does Gabriella know you and Coach are fighting like that?

I'm happy with how it turned out. I've more of an idea of my future now, I actually kinda love New York and I like what I'm doing. I wasn't happy when it first became obvious.

What do you mean, what you can do until you graduate?

Between Ryan and Kelsi there's not really any way to escape musicals, so I'm just kind of embracing it. Sometimes.

You're different. You don't really count because you're my brother. And no…I just got her back, I'm trying not to upset her with anything.

I'm really proud of you dude. You've grown up a lot. Ry's told me some stories, he's really happy with you too obviously, haha. New York's not home, but you're making it work. That's the best thing for you.

Just what it sounds like. I just gotta make it till graduation and it'll be okay. By then I'll actually be on my own, y'know? If Gabi and I are still together then we'll figure out where to go with the future.

Sometimes. Just play lots of b-ball in between before it consumes you!

Look, I'm no relationship expert, but I really don't think less communication is the key to keeping your relationship alive. She'd want to know dude.

Yeah? ...what, you just talk about me behind my back now? What did he say?

Just don't take it on yourself to solve all what's wrong in the world, alright?

I play every day, no worries. Although a lot of my kids do breakdancing, so there's that.

…I'll talk to her. Just not now, okay? It's Christmas. I'm going to surprise her tomorrow before we drive back to Albuquerque.

Like you guys don't talk about me. And he just said he's really proud of you and happy you're doing so well in New York and how much he wants to make out with you. I think that last part's just to gross me out.

It'll be fine, dude. We're like superheroes, remember? I've still got the cape and everything.

Are they teaching you how to dance :P?

Oh? What do you have planned?

As if that would gross you out, everyone wants to make out with me. I'm just that hot. You know that.

You took the cape to California with you?

I already know how to dance! I'm not even that bad.

I got her something…it's really important and I'm kind of thinking this might be too much but I want her to know she's it. No, it's not an engagement ring before you get on my case, btw.

Yeah, I totally wanted to suck your face in ninth grade. You caught me. He's crazy about you.

Yeah, so?

Aren't you the one who refused to dance for, like, years?

If it's not a ring, then what is it?

You should have, I'm an excellent kisser, I could have taught you a thing or two. And Gabriella's crazy about you.

Nothing. Now I want a cape too.

Yeah, well, but they dared me.

I'm mature.

I mean it's a ring, but it's not an engagement ring. It's just…a really, really fancy ring.

I think I've been getting by pretty well without your help dude. But I'll remember that for next time. And I know. I love her. So much.

Come back to California :D

I can't really say anything about maturity since I just told you I brought a cape to college.

...how much money did you spend on a ring? What do you do if she thinks it's an engagement ring?

I mean, I only know from Ryan, mostly, but she seems to be even more into you now, which ought to be impossible, so good for you.

You have the cape, you can just fly here like Superman.

We're doing this adult thing really well.

The truck hasn't been tuned up in six months. If she thinks it's an engagement ring, then…then maybe we're supposed to be engaged.

We talked a lot after she came out to NY. We fixed a lot of things and we're still fixing stuff, that's why I'm not telling her about Coach yet.

Super Troy to the rescue! Gabi and I might come visit for spring break.

…Coach told me to grow up the other day. I told him I didn't feel like it.

You oughta be engaged, I mean, if you both want to be. Doesn't mean you have to get married all that soon, right?

Okay, I get it. But it seems like something you should be in together, right? So do tell her.

Oh, you should. Apparently Zeke might be coming with Sharpay, too. And Jason? I dunno.

Coach has a lot of growing to do himself.

…don't tell her, but after everything? I'm sort of thinking of holding off on proposing for a while. Just until we're really sure.

I'll tell her after Christmas if it's still bad.

Wait what? Wildcats spring break! We should find a nearby beach or something if we're all going to be there anyway.

He's kinda got a point, I guess.

Seems like a good idea, too. I don't think she's gonna leave you, no need to put a ring on it just yet. I mean, Christmas present ring is just fine. Promise ring or something like that.

Alright. You better, okay?

We should make eyes at the Evans twins for that, get some luxury in there.

And what point would that be?

I can't. I can't have her leave again, I'm pretty sure I would actually die if she did. Is that crazy? It's crazy, I know it's crazy, but I can't live without her anymore. And yeah, it's just a promise ring…upgrade from the T necklace, right?

What, are you going to check in with her to make sure I do?

I would not be surprised if they own a beach house somewhere. Or a yacht. Man I hope they own a yacht I've never been on one. Or a cruiseliner.

I do need to grow up a little. Life's not high school anymore, we graduated a year and a half ago. I brought a cape with me to college, I drove across the country because Gabi dumped me and I want to quit playing for the Bruins. That's not okay.

I dunno. It is, but maybe it's okay to be crazy as long as it works out. ...there isn't a T on the ring, is there?

Now you asked all paranoid, so I think I ought to.

I'm sure they do. Once in an email Ryan wrote something like 'one of the hotels my family owns in New York'. So, yeah. I'm gonna ask him. Fucking dating Richie Rich, my life's weird.

Oh, come on. I know a guy who brought like a hundred action figures and he's a certified genius, biochemistry or something like that. Growing up is different for everyone. You wanna quit playing though? Still doing theater?

You're my favorite person. And shut up, no.

Don't you dare or we're not friends anymore.

WTF? Dude…do you think in their family they play Monopoly with actual places? I knew they were rich but what the hell.

Still doing theater. And I don't know. I missed so much of this last season that I'm not even sure. Coach was really mad when he found out.

You're my favorite person, too. What's the ring look like?

Well, if you're gonna tell her like you told me she is bound to contact me anyway, so ha!

That's exactly my thought! I like to imagine they have like a giant Monopoly board somewhere. It's not even real, I so can't wrap my head around it. I'm still hung up on wanting to pay when we go out.

Coach gets really mad when he finds out about a lot of stuff. I care more about what you feel. Do you still wanna play for the team or are you just not into it anymore?

Better be. And here let me attach a pic.

...wait do you two talk about me behind MY back?

I can't believe you're dating someone who thinks it's normal to just buy buildings and boats and who knows what else. Do you think Ryan wins in the theoretical games of real-life Monopoly? I can't even imagine what I'd do if Gabriella were rich like the twins.

I don't know. I don't know, can we not talk about it right now?

[Attached: 1 picture]

Ohh, it's sweet. Gabriella's gonna like it. Also, damn, it looks expensive.

Nah, not really, we just talk about other stuff sometimes.

I can't believe it, either. Don't think I've really wrapped my head around it. It's easy to forget, y'know, because Ryan's a lot more normal than Sharpay most of the time, but sometimes it hits me. Like apparently we're not spending spring break on the yacht because it's kinda old, since they bought it four years ago. Maybe a sailboat.

Alright. But you're gonna talk about it with me, alright? I gave up my team. I mean, granted, that was mostly self-defense, but still.

I'm not telling you how much it was so that you don't tell her. And yeah? I thought about getting her the one with the heart but this one's a snowflake and we met on New Year's Eve and it was snowing when we exchanged numbers so...

Like what?

Sometimes I think the twins are great and that they, Ryan in particular, are pretty down to earth sometimes. And then you tell me stuff like that and my entire illusion's gone. Are you serious? Is that what he actually said? Tell him I don't care I want to be on a pool on the ocean.

Lalalala I can't hear you.

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